Winter Solstice: Ancient Ancestors' Ceremonies
The Samé People of the Arctic
Imagine having no idea whatsoever that you live on a planet that is circumnavigating the Sun every 365 days.
It’s the 1600’s and you live in a small community of men, women, and children near the Arctic Circle; you depend upon your Shaman for maintaining your physical, emotional and spiritual health.
The Shaman regularly communes with the elemental and earth spirits to divine information, wisdom, and guidance for his/her people.
When the darkness grows closer and the people are frightened, the Shaman, who is also fearful, readys himself for a journey to the Sun by preparing his ceremonial garments, using water and berries to dye them red, adorning his garments with bells he’s fashioned from pieces of reindeer antlers. He dances and rattles with reindeer hooves he’s tied together with sinew, hoping that these distractions will dispell the harmful spirits.
The people build fires to ensure his safe travel. When ready, the Shaman journeys to the Spirit of the Sun, asking him why he’s abandoning the people. He asks if the people have done something to anger Him? Is there something they can do or say that would entice the Sun to return to them?
These ancient Arctic communities were populated by the Samé, the Reindeer People, who lived together with a Shaman who was responsible for their survival.
I personally find the traditions that have survived time, especially those from the ancient Samé, to be the most fascinating and relevant history that has birthed our current stories of Santa Clause and the flight of the reindeer.
The Samé Shamans’ flights into the Sun were fostered by their observation of the reindeers’ behavior after they had eaten Amanita mushrooms!
The Samé Shaman observed, that after the reindeer consumed Amanita mushrooms, they were gay, jumping off the ground with all four feet in the air, looking like they were flying away from earth’s gravity.
The Shaman also observed that after the reindeer licked their own urine from where it had yellowed the snow, the urine soaked snow produced the same outcome - jumping high off the ground.
On the darkest day when the Shaman’s community shivered, huddled in their huts, building small fires in the center of their reindeer-hide homes, attempting to remain as warm as possible, the spirits delivered a clear message to the Shaman. He must help his community surive this deadly cold and wind; the spirits told him he had to fly into the Sun to ask for its mercy
He was frightened but willing to sacrifice his life in order to save his community.
Not knowing if it would kill him or not, he licked a large quantity of urine-saturated snow; soon he was flying with reindeer who led his journey to the Sun.
The Sun cheerfully greeted the Shaman and willingly answered his questions, saying, “I am not angry with the humans down below and they haven’t done anything to create my temporary disappearance. Tell them that I will slowly return to them beginning tomorrow. I love them and wish them no harm.
They should create a celebration to prepare for my return.
The Shaman thanked the Sun for its reassurance, then, with the Reindeer leading his way he returned to the Earth and his community.
On his return he delivered gifts to the community in the form of Good News!
THE SUN IS NOT ANGRY, IT TOLD ME IT WILL RETURN TO US SOON AND THAT WE MUST CELEBRATE TO PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE WARMTH AND LIGHT IT WILL BRING TO US.
Following the Sun’s suggestion, the people gathered, adorned the fir trees with red and rabbit furs, built fires, and danced until the Sun made a made a short reappearance that renewed their faith and hope for their survival.
Happy Solstice… and may you have Happy Holidays in whatever ways you celebrate
NOTES:
Do not consume Amanitas; most varieties are poisonous to humans and may cause death.
You may want to read one of my recent essays, published in an online magazine. Link to My Essay
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